Car-stake and attaching means therefor.



PATENTED MAR. 12. 19-07.

Nols msss.

J, TOOMEY. GAB STAKE AND ATTAOHING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1906.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 846,963. PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907-.

J. A. TOOMEY.

GAR STAKE AND ATTAGHING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 25, 1 906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nina

PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.-

' J. A. 100mm.

GAR STAKE AND ATTACHING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1906.

I 11:15 1.70 fizz/6W 7 007116 mm/wm JOHN'ANDREW TOOMEY, or CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

CAR-STAKE AND ATTACHING MEANS THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 25, 1906. Serial No. 323,382.

I Patented March 12, 1907.

To all whom it ntaty concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN ANDREW Too- MEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCar- Stakes and Attaching Means Therefor; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car-stakes and attaching meanstherefor, and more particularly to a car-stake adapted to be permanentlyattached to the car.

Heretofore such cars as flat-cars and gondolas requiring stakes have notbeen pro vided with means for permanently attaching the stakes thereto,for the reason that it is ofttimes desired to load the cars withmaterial not requiring stakes to hold it in place, in which case thestakes, as heretofore attached must, if left in place, remain in anupright position, where they would greatly impede the loading andunloading of the car. For that reason the stakes are generally removedwhen not required, and as a consequence they are ofttimes stolen orthrown away, and in any event they must be replaced by others the nexttime the car is to be loaded with material requiring retaining stakes."

The object of this invention is to provide a car-stake adapted to form apermanent part of the car equipment and which when not in use is adaptedto be carried in a horizontal position at the side or end of the car, soas to permit free access to the car in loading and unloading.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lock for the stakeboth in its upright position and in its position when not in use.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a very strong, cheap,and simple device by means of which the stake is permanently attached tothe car and which is adapted to rigidly lock the stake in its adjustedpositions.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and morefully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a carprovided with stakes embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlargedfragmentary view showing the attaching means for the stake in frontelevation and the stake in upright position. Figs. 3 and 4 are viewssimilar to Fig. 2, but showing the relative positions of adjacent stakesFig. 6 is a fragmentary side eleva-- the floor or platform of aflat-car, and A one of the side sills therefor, both of which may be ofany preferred material and construction. A plate B, comprising acasting, is rigidly bolted on said side sill beneath the floor by meansof bolts 1), or it may be secured thereon in any preferred manner, and,as shown, projects downwardly beneath the sill. Said plate, as shownmore clearly in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 7, is provided with a bearingface 1),near the bottom of which is an out wardly-directed ledge or shelf b uponwhich the stake C rests when in its upright position.

Said ledge b as shown, has its upper surface curved to form the arc of acircle and is provided with an upwardly-directed shoulder b at the outerend thereof, adapted to support the lower end of the stake againstoutward movement.

A housing D, open at its ends to receive the stake C, which is slidablyengaged therein, is pivoted on said plate in close engagement with thebearing-face 1) thereof by means of a strong pivot-bolt D, which extendsthrough an apertured lug d on one side of said housing, near the bottomthereof, and through said plate B and sill A. The stake C, as shown,projects from the bottom of the housing and is provided on the lower endthereof with a metallic cap or socket C, the front side 0 of whichprojects outwardly from the face of the stake to engage beneath thehousing D, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby preventing the stake from beingwithdrawn from the housing. When the stake is in its upri ht position,the lower end thereof, whic is shaped to conform to said ledge b seatsupon the ledge and is locked in such position by a spring-lock E,comprising, as

shown, side members 6, which engage at their upper ends oneither side ofthe stake, and arev l united at their tops by an integral plate 6. l andat their bottomsl a tar e. A piiot- I bolt E extends throug the inner edes" of said side members e near their lower ends and throu h". webs 1),extending downwardly from t e ledge b and a coiled'springE is en-. ga edthereon between said webs, and its on shear against the bar e and act tonormally hold the upper end of said lock inwardly into-position toengage the lower end of the stake. A laterally-directed lug c isprovided on the lower end of one of said side memberse and serves as afulcrum for a lever of: any desired kind which may be placed thereonwith its inner end beneath a boss 6, forming a bearing for the bolt E.hen downward pressure is exerted on the outer end of the lever, it actsto-throw the bottom of the lock inwardly and the top thereof outwardlyout of engagement. with the stake. Saidhousing D is provided on twodiagonally opposite corners thereof with laterally-directed locking-arms d and d having ends conforming to the surface of the shelf b and whichare of alength to be engaged in said lock Whenthe stake is turned downto a horizontal position, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4. The stake G,as-shown in Fig. 1, is provided with a pin or stopc intermediate itsends, which limits the downward movement of the stake through. thehousing D to prevent it coming incontact with theties when-beinglowered.

The operation is as follows: When the stakeis in its-vertical or uprightposition, the lower end thereof rests upon the shelf 12 on the plate B,thereby supporting the down- .ward pressure of the stake directly u onthe c ar sill. The lock E engages the en 'ofthe stake below the housingand prevents the stake from swinging laterally, while the housing, whichhas a relatively long bearing on the stake and is held by its pivot-boltD closely against the bearing-face b and-acts to support the stakeagainst outward pressure. When it is not desired touse the stakes, thelock is turned out of engagement therewith by anysuitable lever, and assoon as the stake is on its pivot a sufficient distance for the lowerend thereof to clear the shelf 5 it drops downwardly until the stop a inthe stake engages the housing. As the stake reaches its horizontalposition with one of the locking-arms d or d on the housing above theshelf the lock is permitted to swing intoengagement with said arnc s, there- I by holding the stake in its adjusted position. Thee-takes areusually placed a suflicient distanceapart so that when lowered the endsthereof will project into close proxiir ity to the housing of the nextadjacent stakes, so that longitudinal movement of the stake through itshousing is prev ented.

I As-gsh'own,. a bracket F is engaged on the sill adjacent the plate Bto support the top ceases end of the lower stake when inhorizontalposition, and the top end of thezupper stake rests on the lugor bossof thehousing, though obviously such supports 8115631101necessary, inasmuch as the stakes are securely locked against turning.

The tension of. the spring E acts to normally hold the lock closed; butshould the spring L ecome Lroken 0r. inoperative for any other reasonthe lock may be held in closed position by means of a wedge 11, drivenbe. tween the lower end of the plate B and. the.

lower end of the lock beneath the piv ot-bolt 1t" and which rests oninwardly-directed flanges b and e on saidplate andv said Look,respectively.

1 claim as my invention? 1. ln a device of the classdescribed aplate, ahousing pivoted thereon, laterally pro-- j ecting locKmg-arms engagedthereto ,astake slidabiy engaged in said housing and means.

for locking the housing to the plate.

2. In a device of the class described. the combination with a. plateofahousing pivot.- ed thereon, a stake slida-bly engagedlin. said housingand adapted to swingtoeither a vertical or. a horizontal position andmeans for locking said stake in either of. its; adjusted positions topositively prevent vertical or, horizontal movement in said adjustments.

3. In a devicev of the class described. the combination with an.attaehingeplate.v of a stake pivoted thereon and means for locking thestake in its adjusted positions,saidks.tahe being movable relatively of"the plate. only when turned .at an. angle with: theverti'c'ah.

4. In a device of theclass; described. the

combination with. a. supporting-plate of. a.

1 said stake in adjusted; position.

- 5. The combination with a car of'a. stake slidably and pivotallyengaged thereon and means engaged to. said stake adapted. tolimit itssliding movement.

6. In a device of the class described the combination with supportingmeans adapted to be engaged to a car, of. means pivoted thereon adaptedto receive astake', a stake slidably engaged in said receiving meansanda spring-controlled lock. adapted to hold the stake in adjustedposition.

7. 1n a device of the class described the combination with anattaching-plate of" a housing pivoted thereon, a stake slidably'enegaged in said housing and a lock adapte'dlto receive said stake ineither a. vertical. or a horizontal position, said stake being. securedfrom movement when in both the vertical and horizontal adjustments- 8.In a device of the class. described. the combinationv with a plate, of.a. housing pi voted thereon, laterally-directed. arms. (in-saidhousing,a stake slidably engaged. in. said. housing and projecting from thebottom thereof and a spring-controlled lock adapted to engage the bottomof said stake when the stake is in a vertical position and to engage oneof said arms when the stake is in a horizontal position.

9. In a device of the class described the combination with a platehaving a supporting-ledge thereon, of a housing pivoted on the plateabove said ledge, lateraly directed arms on said housing, a stakeslidably engaged in said housing and adapted to rest on said ledge whenin an upright position and a spring-controlled lock adapted to engagesaid stake and arms and hold the stake in its adjusted positions.

10. In a device of the class described the combination with anattaching-plate, of a housing pivotally engaged thereon, a stakeslidably engaged in said housing, means limiting the movement of saidstake in the housing and means for positively locking the stake in botha vertical and ahorizontal position.

11. The combination with a car of vertically and a horizontallyadjustable stake therefor and spring-controlled means adapted to securesaid stake in either adjustment.

12. In a device of the class described the combination with a car of aplate thereon, an

adjustable housing pivoted thereto and provided with laterally-directedarms, a stake slidable in said housing, means adapted to engage saidstake to secure said housing in one adjustment and to engage one of saidarms to secure said housing in another adjustment.

13. In a device of the class described the combination with a car ofstakes therefor, a housing adapted to hold each stake,laterally-projecting arms on said housing and a lock for engaging one ofthe same and securely holding said stake in horizontal position.

14. In a device of the class described the combination with a car of ahousing or casing secured thereon and a stake therein adapted to besupported vertically and adapted to slide relatively of the casing orhousing only when the stake is at an angle with the perpendicular.

15. In a device of the class described the combination with a car of ahousing or casing secured to a side sill thereof, a stake engagedthereto and slidable therein only when inclined at an angle from thevertical.

16. The combination with a car of stakes pivotally secured on the sidesills thereof, and capable of assuming a vertical position only whenfully extended and slidable on the car when in an inclined position andsupports for said stake while in horizontal position.

17. In a device of the class described the combination with a casing orhousing of a stake seated therein and relatively slidable thereof whenthe stake is turned at an angle with the vertical and said stake alwaysfirmly locked from movement when in a vertical position.

18. In a device of the class described the combination with a car of ahousing or casing engaged to a side sill thereof and a stake seatedtherein always firmly secured from sliding movement when in a verticaland horizontal position and slidable in said housing when the stake isturned at an angle with the vertical.

19. In a device of the class described the combination with a car of ahousing engaged thereto, a stake seated in said housing secured at alltimes from sliding movement when in a vertical position and slidable insaid housing when the stake isturned at an angle with the perpendicular,means limiting the sliding movement of said stakeand means positivelysecuring said stake from sliding movement when in a horizontal position.

20. In a device of the class described the combination with a car of astake therefor, means supporting said stake whereby the stake is at alltimes locked from vertical movement, said stake adapted to sliderelativel y of said support when turned at an angle therewith.

21. In a device of the class described the combination with a housing ofa stake therein always looked from sliding movement when in a verticalposition, and slidable in said housing when turned at an angle with theperpendicular, a stop limiting the sliding movement of said stake, meansat all times preventing the stake from making a complete revolutionthereby preventing the stake from leaving the housing, said stakesecurely locked from sil ding movement when in a horizontal position.

In a device of the class described the combination with a housing of astake slidable therein when turned at an angle with the vertical andpositively secured from sliding movement when in a vertical andhorizontal position.

23. In a device of the class described the combination with a car of ahousing engaged thereto, a stake slidable therein by gravity when turnedat an angle with the vertical, means limiting the sliding of said stakeand means positively locking the stake from turning ahalf-revolutionthereby at all times preventing the same from reversing and droppinginto contact with the ties or ground.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

JOI-IN ANDREW TOOMEY.

Witnesses:

O. W. HILLs, WM. C. SMITH.

